'The Market, a space located in the Macy's department store at the Ross Park Mall, will be used this holiday season for a Facebook 'pop-up' store featuring goods that are typically only available from online retailers.

But not being able to actually see and touch the merchandise before buying can be off-putting some people.

Now the best of both worlds is available for Pittsburgh area shoppers.

The Macy’s department store in the Ross Park Mall is one of nine around the country where social media giant Facebook is opening its first small business “pop-up” stores featuring goods from 100 small business and brands sold primarily online.

The pop-up store, which will be open throughout the holiday shopping season, will be housed in “The Market,” a space in Macy’s stores that was created last year to spotlight new and growing brands. The store opened Monday and will stay open until Feb. 2.

The other Facebook pop-up stores will be located in Macy’s stores in New York City, Atlanta, Fort Lauderdale, San Antonio, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

“All over the world people are running businesses, big and small, that have inspiring stories and we want to help them succeed,” Facebook’s Director of North America Marketing Michelle Klein said in a statement released this week. “We are thrilled to be partnering with one of the world’s biggest retailers to bring some of those businesses to a physical store this holiday season.

“Macy’s shoppers will have the chance to meet businesses like Love Your Melon that sells hats and apparel to help in the fight against pediatric cancer, or Charleston Gourmet Burger Company that started from a backyard barbecue and has expanded to reach customers in all 50 states,” Klein said.

The store will also feature products from Two Blind Brothers, a clothing company that donates all of its profits to research for a blindness cure. The store inside the Ross Park Mall will feature items from Gekks, Lizzy James Inc, LoveBook, Henry’s House of Coffee and more this month, a Facebook spokeswoman said.

“Facebook has been a core partner in our growth,” said Bradford Manning, co-founder of Two Blind Brothers. “For (my brother) Bryan and I, touch is such an important sense and why softness is a hallmark of our brand.

“For Two Blind Brothers and the majority of businesses participating, the experience will allow consumers to experience our brands and quality in a physical store for the first time ever,” Manning said.

Tony LaRussa is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tony at 724-772-6368 or tlarussa@tribweb.com or via Twitter @TonyLaRussaTrib.

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